‘It’s good to go out with a bang’: QND’s Eversman steady on back nine to win Class 1A regional title

HAMILTON, Ill. — Maybe Meredith Eversman found the magic elixir to evening out a topsy-turvy round of golf.

Switch your balls.

Having posted a 7-over 43 on the front nine Tuesday at Deer Run Golf Course, the Quincy Notre Dame senior pulled a different sleeve of balls from her bag when she went to the 10th tee. It made all the difference as she parred the first four holes on the back nine, shot a 3-over 39 and walked away as the individual medalist of the Class 1A regional.

“I did it just to get some new mojo,” Eversman said. “I’m not really sure that had any effect on it, but I just did it.”

Eversman’s play on the back was the boost the Raiders needed to accomplish two goals.

First, they repeated as regional champions, posting a 346 total as the top four individuals were all QND golfers who were the only golfers in the field to break 90. Petersburg PORTA finished second at 424 and Illini West was third at 431.

The top three teams and the top 10 individuals not on those teams advance to Monday’s Class 1A Rochester Sectional at Lincoln Greens Golf Course in Springfield.

“We kind of felt we could get through,” Eversman said. “We weren’t looking past today at all, but we know sectionals is going to be tougher. We’ll have to be prepared.”

Maybe QND coach Jason Knuffman can provide motivation the way he did Tuesday.

That’s the second thing the Raiders accomplished.

Knuffman made his team a deal. If the Raiders broke 350 as a team, he would wear a sombrero at the celebratory team dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant and he would do a handstand. 

“So that will be kind of fun,” Eversman said.

Knuffman passed on the handstand, but he did wear the sombrero at dinner.

He had little choice after the way the Raiders played. Freshman Nancy Scholz parlayed a 4-over 40 on the front nine into an 86 to finish second individually, while junior Belle Boudreau and freshman Natalie Druffel tied for third with 89s. Sophomore Sam Reeder was 15th at 112 and sophomore Caroline Knuffman was 20th at 115.

Eversman’s closing kick made her the only golfer in the 57-player field to break 40 on either nine. 

“The back was a lot of fun,” she said. “I was not as happy with the front. The back was fun and I finished strong. I’m happy about that.”

The highlight came on the par-4 16th when she recorded one of her sven pars on the back nine.

“It’s good to go out with a bang,” Eversman said. “I don’t think I have ever parred that hole in my life.”

Illini West is advancing as a team to sectionals for the first time in program history as freshman Priya War led the charge as she tied for eighth with a 103. Freshman Audrey Sullivan shot a 104, sophomore Raina Flynn carded a 105 and junior Hattie Wood posted a 119.

The individuals who will tee it up at sectionals were led by Southeastern senior Shelby Stout, who finished sixth with a 99, and Pittsfield senior Hannah Williams, who was eighth with a 103. Also advancing were Brown County’s Kayla Barfield (105), Ella Henry (106) and Hope Ingram (113), Pittsfield’s Kaylee Martin (111), West Hancock’s Lucy Woodworth (112) and Abby Finch (116) and Liberty’s Bryanna Troyer (116).